What does turn mean in music?

turn means "four-note ornament circling the written pitch".

What type of musical term is turn?

turn is a ornaments term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the ornaments word list.

What grade is turn tested in?

turn first appears at Grade 4 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Music theory · Musical terms · Ornaments

turn — meaning in music

turn is a musical term meaning four-note ornament circling the written pitch. It is a ornaments marking, first tested at Grade 4 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

four-note ornament circling the written pitch

OrnamentsFirst tested: Grade 4

Translations

French	ornement à quatre notes encerclant la hauteur écrite
German	viertöniges Ornament, das die geschriebene Tonhöhe umkreist
Italian	ornamento di quattro note che circonda l'altezza scritta
Spanish	ornamento de cuatro notas que rodea el tono escrito
Chinese	围绕书面音高的四音装饰音

Related terms

acciaccatura appoggiatura mordent trill

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All ornaments terms

acciaccatura appoggiatura mordent trill turn